Notes

The Devil's Garden Overlook
Blue Ridge Parkway

illiam M. Jennings and his wife Martha JOINES originally lived in the Traphill district of Wilkes County, North Carolina, high in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Ashe (later Alleghany) County line. They seem to have moved into Ashe County by 1850. They are listed on the same page of the 1850 census as Elias SIMMONS, Joel SIMMONS, and Thomas SMITH, all of whom owned land in the Blue Ridge around Laurel Fork of Brush Creek. William's will was probated in Ashe County, and the land which was sold after his death was located on the Little River adjoining Richard WILLIAMS, Starling TOLIVER, and Levi FENDER, who lived in the vicinity of the Little River and Glade Creek. (Alleghany DB 1, pp.38-39). These clues place William Jennings' land somewhere in the southwestern part of Alleghany County, probably in Cherry Lane Township.

William Jennings and Martha Joines were likely married around 1805. Martha's father, Thomas JOINES (also spelled Goins in some records) was one of the early early settlers in Wilkes County. The Joines family lived on the upper reaches of Big Elkin Creek and the Roaring River in the area around Traphill.

William Jennings' will, dated Oct. 30, 1851, proved in
1856, refers to his wife Patsy and eight children. (Ashe Co., NC, Will Book D, p.33.) The will does not identify the children by name except for Thornton JENNINGS and son-in-law John CARSON. William's land on the Little River in Ashe County was purchased by William JENNINGS, Jr., at auction on Apr. 7, 1857, for $870. (Alleghany DB A-1, pp. 38-39.) The estate file contains receipts from six children dated Apr. 1, 1859: William JINNINGS, Thornton JINNINGS, Solomon JINNINGS, Martin JINNINGS, "Sealia" EDWARDS, and Susannah REYNOLDS, for their share of the proceeds of the land sale. (NC Archives File No. CR.006.508.16.) Each received $104.87½ which is one-eighth of $839 -- the difference of $31 probably went to fees and costs associated with the sale.

Another son is believed to be Luke JENNINGS, who moved to Owen Co., Indiana, prior to 1850 and later lived in Cherokee Co., Kansas. An eighth child has never been identified but was probably a daughter born between 1810-1815, based on census records.

Martha appears in the census in 1860 at the age of 70, living with her son William Jr. and his family. She is not listed in any further census records, so she presumably died sometime between 1860-1870. She and her husband were probably buried in a family cemetery which is now lost.

Records

May 5, 1807. Wilkes Co., NC. Deed from Matthew CAUDILL
to William JINNINGS, 51 acres on the north fork of Mulberry Creek
on the north side of a mountain, including the plantation, for
$36. Signed: Matthew CAUDILL. Wits: Robert MARTIN, John KENEDAY.
(Wilkes DB F-1, p.472.)

Will of William Jennings

I WILLIAM JENINGS acknowledge myself in my right mind and
appoint THORNTON JENINGS and JOHN CARSON to attend to all my
business, my son and son-in-law. My last Will and Testament is
this that I desire my wife PATSY to have one hundred dollars and
a good horse and to live amongst her children as she pleases and
the remainder of all my property notes and land to be equally
divided among my eight children to my book of record.

William (X) JENINGS

Signed in the presence of
SAMUEL EDWARDS
MARTIN JENINGS
WILLIAM JENINGS

State of North Carolina

}

Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions

Ashe County

}

May Term 1856

I Robert GAMBILL Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter sessions for the County of Ashe & state of North Carolina do hereby certify that the within will was duly proven by the oath of Martin JENINGS one of the subscribing witnesses to said will and ordered to be recorded.

TestRobert GAMBILL CCC

William Jennings' Estate File

The court file concerning the probate of William Jennings' estate (NC Archives File No. CR.006.508.16) contains the following documents:

June 12, 1858, Settlement of the Estate: $2,037.15 in hands of the executor Thornton JINNINGS, deducting $287.46 vouchers (allowing $200 of that amount as a credit paid to Patsy JINNINGS according to will), deducting $61.11 commission (3%) to the executor, leaves $1,724.58 in hands of the executor. Signed: C.H. DOUGHTON, Wm. H. JOINES.

Apr. 1, 1859, receipts from William JINNINGS, Thornton JINNINGS, Solomon JINNINGS, Martin JINNINGS, Sealia EDWARDS, & Susannah REYNOLDS, $104.87½ each as their shares of the lands sold as the property of William JINNINGS, deceased.

Note, William Jennings's land was sold on Apr. 25, 1859, for $870. (Alleghany DB 1:38.) $104.87½ is one-eighth of $839. The difference of $31 probably covered fees and costs. The will states that William Jennings had 8 children, but only 6 are identified in the estate file. It is possible that the other 2 did not live in Alleghany County, so were not present when the executor distributed the sale proceeds on April 1, 1859. Presumably he got the money to them later in some other fashion which was not recorded.